Pens lose to Bruins 3-2 (30-Nov-2002)
Pittsburgh's four game winning streak ends with a 3-2 loss to the Eastern Conference-leading Boston Bruins. The Pens saw the return of Mario Lemieux but were without Dick Tarnstrom who broke his foot versus the Sabres. Both Penguin goals were scored on the power play with Andrew Ference and Jan Hrdina the goalscorers. Joe Thornton scored twice for the Bruins and Sergei Samsonov netted the game-winner.... Read more

Pens beat Sabres 4-1. (29-Nov-2002)
The Penguins without Mario Lemieux beat the Sabres 4-1 for their fourth straight win. Alexei Kovalev scored a power play and even strength goal. Jan Hrdina also notched a power play goal and Ville Nieminen added an empty-netter. Pittsburgh's power play *only* went 2 for 5. Johan Hedberg turned aside 43 of 44 Buffalo shots on goal.... Read more

December practice schedule released. (29-Nov-2002)
The December practice schedule at Iceoplex has been released. The Penguins have only six practices scheduled in December.

Mario Lemieux to sit versus Buffalo (29-Nov-2002)
According to rds.ca, Mario will not play in this evening's game versus the Sabres. Lemieux will rest for one game and then play tomorrow night against Boston. Update: TSN.ca is reporting that Lemieux has the flu but is expected to play Saturday.

Pens recall Ference and Sivek from WBS (29-Nov-2002)
The Penguins have recalled D Andrew Ference and C Michal Sivek from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Ference had been sent down for a one game conditioning assignment and Sivek will be replacing Shean Donovan who broke his right foot blocking a shot in Wednesday's blow-out of the Flyers.

Penguins crush Flyers 7-2! (27-Nov-2002)
Sweet! The Pens destroy the Atlantic Division leading 7-2 to move into a tie for first place in the division. Pittsburgh's power play continues to amaze as they convert on 4 of 6 opportunities. The Penguins got goals from seven different players. Goalscorers were Martin Straka (5:53 - 1st per., PPG), Alexei Kovalev (17:20 - 1st, PPG), Ville Nieminen (0:43 - 2nd), Aleksey Morozov (4:47 - 2nd, PPG), Janne Laukkanen (6:58 - 2nd), Dan LaCouture (12:47 - 3rd) and Jan Hrdina (17:27 - 3rd, PPG). The only downside of the win was that Martin Straka was injured yet again. Reports are that it's a hamstring injury and he will be evaluated tomorrow.... Read more

Andrew Ference sent to WBS for conditioning assignment (26-Nov-2002)
The Penguins have assigned defenseman Andrew Ference to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for a conditioning assignment. It has been reported that Ference may suit up for Pittsburgh in either this Friday's game against Buffalo or Saturday's game against Boston.

Penguins beat Sharks 4-1 for second straight win (23-Nov-2002)
The Pens score four goals in an 11:06 span of the second period and beat San Jose 4-1 for second straight win. After a scoreless first period, Pittsburgh got goals from Mario Lemieux (7:06), Martin Straka (12:13), Marc Bergevin (13:19) and Martin Straka (18:12 - ppg). The first Straka goal and Bergevin goal were scored on the same 4-on-4. The Sharks got their lone goal from Teemu Selanne at 4:16 of the third. Jean-Sebastien Aubin made 24 saves.... Read more

Penguins snap winless streak with 3-1 victory over Atlanta (22-Nov-2002)
The Pens break out of their 7 game winless streak by beating the Thrashers 3-1 and keep their all-time record versus Atlanta a perfect 14-0-0. Pittsburgh got another strong goaltending performance, this time from Johan Hedberg who stopped 36 shots and was the game's number one star. Jan Hrdina (14:23 - 1st per.) and Alexei Kovalev (14:09 - 3rd per.) scored power play goals and Wayne Primeau (19:10 - 3rd per.) added an empty-netter.... Read more

Martin Straka Interview (nhl.cz) - Tomas' Translation (21-Nov-2002)
Tomas Jandik has translated an nhl.cz interview with Martin Straka after his first game of the season. Read it at Tomas Translations.

Pens lose second straight overtime game to Montreal (20-Nov-2002)
The Penguins lose 3-2 to the Canadiens in overtime and waste a strong goaltending effort from Jean-Sebastien Aubin. Jan Hrdina scored both Pittsburgh goals - the first on the power play in the 1st period and the second on a delayed penalty call in the 2nd period. Pens are now winless in their last 7 games. Attendance was a disappointing 13,549 at Mellon Arena.... Read more

Robert Lang Interview (MF Dnes) - Tomas' Translation (19-Nov-2002)
Tomas Jandik has translated an interview from the Czech newspaper MF Dnes with ex-Penguin Robert Lang. Read it at Tomas Translations.

Penguins lose 5-4 in overtime to Canadiens (18-Nov-2002)
Pittsburgh scores twice in the third period to tie game but Montreal nets one in overtime for a 5-4 win. Eight of the game's nine goals were scored during special teams play with seven power play goals and one shorthanded goal. Dick Tarnstrom (PPG), Aleksey Morozov (PPG), Jan Hrdina (PPG) and Mario Lemieux (PPG) scored for the Pens. Josef Melichar left the game with 2:40 to go in the third with a shoulder injury. Pittsburgh is now winless in their last six games.... Read more

NHL fines Bergevin (18-Nov-2002)
The NHL has fined D Marc Bergevin the league maximum of $1,000 for his comments about the referees in Saturday's 3-2 loss to the New York Islanders. Bergevin received a gross misconduct after the game was over for complaining to the referees.

Pens lose 3-2 to Islanders - team winless in 5 games (16-Nov-2002)
The Penguins return home from four game road trip and lose 3-2 to the Islanders. Pittsburgh now is winless in its last five games coinciding with the return of Martin Straka. Alexei Kovalev scored a power play goal in the first to tie the game at one and Mario Lemieux netted a power play goal late in the third to cut finish off the game's scoring. D Michal Rozsival left the game in the first period after separating his shoulder on a hit from Steve Webb. The game's #1 Star was New York goaltender, Chris Osgood, who was outstanding, particularly in the second period.... Read more

Vladimir Vujtek reassigned (15-Nov-2002)
Vladimir Vujtek was assigned by the Penguins to HC Vitkovice of the Czech Republic Extraleague. Reports that Vujtek had been bought out by Pittsburgh appear to have been incorrect.

Pittsburgh and Minnesota play a 1-1 tie. (14-Nov-2002)
The Penguins and Wild end up knotted at one in a goaltender's duel between Johan Hedberg (30 saves) and Manny Fernandez (23 saves). Marc Bergevin and ex-Pen Richard Park were the goalscorers.... Read more

The Penguins add 8 additional promotional nights (12-Nov-2002)
The team has added eight new promotional nights. The items given away willl be a Youth Street Hockey Stick, Penguins Ball Cap and six more Bobblehead nights. Check out the entire Promotional Schedule.

Penguins lose to Hurricanes 3-2 - drop third straight game (9-Nov-2002)
The Penguins led 2-1 in the third period but give up two goals and lose 3-2. Jean-Sebastien Aubin got a rare start in net and despite making numerous difficult saves let in two soft goals. Martin Straka and Alexandre Daigle scored for Pittsburgh.... Read more

Penguins get beat 4-1 by Lightning (8-Nov-2002)
The Penguins give up three goals in the third period and lose 4-1 to Tampa Bay. Alexandre Daigle scored the game's opening goal in the second period. Vincent Lecavalier nets his first career hat trick and Fredrik Modin notches the other Tampa Bay goal. Alexei Kovalev's and Mario Lemieux's 11 game point-scoring streaks end.... Read more

Pens lose 4-3 in overtime to Panthers (6-Nov-2002)
In Martin Straka's return to action, Pittsburgh loses 4-3 to Florida on a Valeri Bure overtime power play goal. Mario Lemieux had sent the game to overtime with a goal with 8.8 seconds to go in the third period. Dick Tarnstrom and Alexandre Daigle scored the other Penguin goals. The real story of the game though was the strong play of Florida goaltender, Roberto Luongo.... Read more

Pens beat Lightning 5-3 for fourth straight win (3-Nov-2002)
The Penguins won their fourth straight game by beating Tampa Bay 5-3 in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh had a 2 goal lead near the midpoint of the third period but consecutive goals by Martin St. Louis tied the game with four minutes to go. Kent Manderville notched the game-winner 30 seconds later and Mario Lemieux added an empty-netter. The Pens' power play remained red-hot as they went 3 for 4. Alexei Kovalev (2 PPGs) and Jan Hrdina (PPG) scored the other Pittsburgh goals. Attendance was announced as a standing room only sellout of 17,108.

Lemieux named NHL Player of the Month (1-Nov-2002)
Mario Lemieux was named NHL Player of the Month for October. Mario notched 23 points in 10 games to lead all scorers. Lemieux has now won the Player of the Month award 14 times.

Three Penguins on NHL All-Star Ballot (1-Nov-2002)
Mario Lemieux, Alexei Kovalev and Martin Straka are on the 2003 NHL All-Star Ballot. Voting runs from November 1st through December 31st and can be done electronically at http://www.nhl.com/allstar2003/index.html.